BUSSELTON, Australia, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A surfer mauled by a shark in Western Australia Tuesday managed to swim to shore before dying on his way to the hospital, officials say.
The 31-year-old man was surfing alone at 8 a.m. Australian time when the shark attacked him, The Australian reported.
Several onlookers ran from a nearby car park and applied first aid to the victim who was bleeding heavily and losing consciousness, local surfer Eddie Kilgallon said.
"I was holding what was left of his leg together," Kilgallon said. "The bottom half of his thigh was exposed and ripped open. Half of his calf muscle was also torn to shreds."
Local resident Bob Alder said there were seals in the Cowaramup Bay at the time of the attack and the shark probably mistook the surfer for a seal.
Authorities have not released the name of the victim.
